Snow Bound Stir Crazy Musings.....

I've had hot flashes now for 12 years and have found the best relief is winter in CT.  When one hits, I merely step outside or open the window.  The -3 degrees brings instant relief and the hot flash is over in a "flash".  Last night (somewhere in the middle) I awoke to that suffocating, sweltering feeling and on automatic pilot I made my way to the window.  What?!  Snowing again?  Why was I even surprised.  But I was shocked!  The snow was a mere 12 inches from my window ledge.  This morning I checked the weather bug (online) and discovered we got another 8 inches last night, and yet another snow storm will be coming in two days.  Ann, who is 80 something, informed me at breakfast that when she was a kid and walked (of course) to school, her mother would warn her not to touch the telephone wires.  When I responded with a dumb blank stare she added, "The snow was almost up to the wires."  I'm hoping that story was one of those that gets more interesting in repeated telling over many years.  I merely raised my eyebrows in mock surprise without additional comments.  Why encourage her?  Visions of fried children were already appearing in my mind.  Ann did not seem to notice my lack of response.  She was happily enjoying the memory while arranging her oxygen bottle on her walker  as she prepared to leave the table.  "Will we be playing Bingo tomorrow?", she asked as she stood up to leave.  Ah Bingo...the pacifier of old age...more comforting than memories and spicier than chili peppers.  When Helen who is nearly deaf as a post,  incessantly asks me to repeat the number I just called, an annoyed groaning ripples through the room.  Ernie, age 100 with great hearing, repeats it in a loud irritated voice.  Helen indignantly protests, "Well I have bad hearing."  But before she can finish, Ernie yells back, "Shut up, let's just play!" This scenario replays throughout the game and at each and every session week after week.  There are always more arguments about choosing the cards, cheating, and taking more prizes from the basket that one truly earned.  But none of this unpleasantness seems to deter the players who attend the sessions as faithfully as seagulls at the beach.  Ugh! Another hot flash coming on...got to run for the window...I promise not to reach out too far and touch the telephone wires.